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NJPW: Highlights from The New Beginning in Osaka

By Franny Crocker

SAPPORO, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 02: Tetsuya Naito and KENTA square off during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling 'The New Beginning in Sapporo' at Hokkai Kitayell on February 02, 2020 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
SAPPORO, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 02: Tetsuya Naito and KENTA square off during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling 'The New Beginning in Sapporo' at Hokkai Kitayell on February 02, 2020 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images) /
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Launching off of rivalries and challenges forged at Wrestle Kingdom and on the Road to Osaka, The New Beginning kicks NJPW’s 2020 off with a bang.

NJPW’s The New Beginning in Osaka finally cashes in rivalries brewing from Wrestle Kingdom and the Road shows and opens new opportunities for future title challenges, as well as some fun moments, show announcements, and not an insignificant amount of blood.

Nakanishi’s Final Match in Osaka-Jo Hall

And presumably, Osaka itself. Admittedly, as a newer fan I struggle to say as much for these matches as other matches, but they give me insight into the corners of New Japan I haven’t made myself familiar with yet.

I know Nakanishi rules because I think one time he said in an interview that one of his favorite pastimes is eating a lot and that really resonated with me. Anyway, he looked great and he had some great spots, a lot of strength and resilience in that older body. Plus, I’m always a sucker for multi-man tag matches where everyone ends up in a submission hold at the same time.

YOH and SHO’s Big Day Out

The fight itself was solid; there’s been significant buildup to the aggressive preemptive attack that YOH and SHO (or should I say SHO and YOH) pulled out, considering how hard both Desperado and Kanemaru have been trying to break SHO’s knee. They both seem prepared for typical Suzuki-gun tactics, evading low-blows and winning by being faster and generally more ferocious.

And, okay, I wanted El Desperado and Kanemaru to win those belts and return to what was originally an impressive championship run, but the mega coaches challenging for those belts becomes a thousand times more interesting when Rocky ostensibly has to choose between his partner and his boys.

Thankfully he chose Taguchi, and now they’re challenging for the belts. Truth be told, I’m much less worried about the Mega Coaches fighting R3K turning into anything even remotely tragic than I was that another one of Taguchi’s tag partners was about to leave him in the dust.

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